The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-03-10


War; her. They were the
steam frigates Minnesota and Roanoke and
the sailing frigates Cumberland and Congress.
The appearance Of the Merrimac had come to
be looked on as something of joke. Van
Brunt, captain of the Minnesota, wrote home:
ave are tired of waiting for the Merrimac
and wish she would come out"
He had his wish presently to his hearts
content
Hampton roads is an inlet of Chesapeake
bay, between Fortress Monroe and Norfolk.
The James river empties into it, also the
Elizabeth, on which the navy yard lies. The
bay or indentation gets its name of "roads,"
or roadstead for ships, on account of its
depth'Of water, being scarcely anywhere less
than twenty-three feet. It is about five miles
across.
The Federal vessels lay about the roads not
very near together.
'SThe Minnesota and the Roanoke were here
near Fortress Monroe, the Cumberland and
Congress were of yonder south, near the
mouth of the Elizabeth river, says the cap
tain.
About noon, Saturday, March s, the Fed
eral lookout5 saw something coming down
the Elizabeth river. 1t was, in fact, three
things, as they presently moved nearer. 1t
was three steamers. Two of them were ordi-
nary gunboats. The other was queer looking
craft, appearing like the roof OF barn steam
ing down stream. Was this the Merrimac!
The little feet came steaming down the river
and out into the roads. Quickly the Mime
sofa and the Roanoke made ready to meet
the newcomers. The queer craft was the
Merrimac at last. The Roanoke had a broken
shaft. She had to be towed out into tbs
water by tugs.
1t does not take long to tell the story of
what followed. The Minnesota grounded
out Of range of the Virginia, and could not
be got OF. It was ebb tide Presently the
Roanoke grounded at the stern. The United
States navy was not worth much more then
than it is now.
The Congress and Cumberland were an
chored nearest to the coming monitor as she
steamed out Of Elizabeth river.
There was some exchange Of shots as the
Merrimac came booming on. One shot from
her disabled several gunneFs ON the CuTnber-
land The Cumberland was swung broadside
across the channel The Merrimac went at
her straight as an arrow and ramnled her
iron beak into the Cunberlands side =
great opening was made and water poured In
q torrent into the Cumberland. Then the
Merrinac opened fire. Every shot hit the
mark, and the decks of the wooden ship were
soon covered with dead and injured Ia
three-quarters Of an hour the Inortally hurt
ship went down IN f1fty-four feet of water.
carrying dead, dying and wounded with her
Some were picked up in boats from the shore
and q few swan to land The Cum
berland's topmast showed above wa
ter, with her flag still flying. 1t was
the tarn of the Congress next. The
two companion gunboats OF the Merrinac
had attacked her. Seeing the fate of the
Cumberland. Lieut. Pendergast, commander
OF the Congress, ran her aground by means
Of tugs, in order to prevent the Merrimac
from sinking her. The Herrimac, after sink
ing the Cumberland began pouring shot into
the Congress. The aim Of the Confederates
was marveionsly accurate. The firing from
the Congress had no effect on the MeTTimaess
sloping iron sides.
At 40 Lieut. Pendergast. seeing all was
over, hauled down the stars and stripes, and
ran up white flag In token of surrender.
The Cmfederates sent tug 10 take formal
posesicn.